Vegetable topping machine



Dec. 22, 1942. s. BURDICK 2,306,035

' VEGETABLE TQPPING MACHINE Filed July 1.0, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Ephraim Du. 22, 1942. E. BURDICK 2,305,035

- VEGETABLE TOPPING MACHINE Filed July 1o, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 1 Dec. 22, 1942.

E. BURDICK VEGETABLE TOPPING MACHINE FiledJuly 10. 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Z? ,2? pa 21 l L I9- 22 54 I Dec. 22,1942. E. BURDIcK I 5 VEGETABLE TOiPING MACHINE Filed July.10, 1941 5 She ets-Sheet 4 66 a az 2,6 62 61 1210.11. I 7 a 44 as I 576 2;" 46 1e 70 ea m 26 Burcbicb Dec. 22, 1942. '5, BURD|K 2,306,035

VEGETABLE TOPPING MACHINE Filed July 10, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Ephraim Burdzlcl anyway Patented Dec. 22, 1942 mam Ephraim Bur-dick; Madison, -Ohio,;assig11or of onehall-.120 *UlyssisEato, Cleveland, Ohio- Application Julyl'fl, 1941, 'SerialNo. 401,823

EJCIaimS'. (Cl. 146 -85) My invention. relates toa vegetable: topping.

machine.

An important object of. the invention is twill]- prove the machine in general and to. provide means whereby the noise produced in the. oper-- ation of the-machine. is eliminated. or: greatly reduced.

A further object of the inventionisteprovide means to prevent the. bulbs of small..vege-- tables from falling through the spaces between therolls of different pairs,

A further objectofthe invention is to provide. means to prevent the toppedvegetables... from,

remainingupon the combv after the topping operation.

Other objects and. advantages of. the invention will be apparent during the course.v of. the

following description.

In the accompanying drawingsforming apart. of this application and inwhich. likenumerals are employed. to designate .like parts throughout the same,

Figure 1 is a plan view ofavegetable topping machine embodying my invention,

Figure 2 is a transverse sectionttaken on line,

2-2 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a vertical section taken. on. line 33 of Figure 2,

Figure 4 is a side elevation ofLthemach'ine,

Figure 5 is a vertical longitudinal section taken on line 5-5'of'Figure 1',-,

Figure 6 is a similar view takenbnline. 6'--6 of Figure 1;

Figure 7 is a transverse vertical section taken.

on line 1-1 of Figure 4,.

Figure dis a similar view. taken on lined-8 of Figure 4',

Figure 9 is a similar view taken on.line 9T9T of Figure 4,v

Figure 10 is a similar view taken on line:

I0l0 of Figure 4, I

Figure 11 is a similar view taken online H-ll of Figure 4',

Figure 12 is. a similar view taken on=linet |2'-l 2,.

of Figure v i,

Figure l3is a front end 'elevation ofthema' chine,

Figure 14 isa perspective'viewoftheroll engaging belts and associated elements, separated from the machine, for'the purpose of illustra tion,

Figure15-is a side elevation oftheends of the guide and pressure rails, at the discharge end the machine, corresponding to Figure .4; ,with as.- sociated elementsin elevation, and,

Figure 16 is a similar view of the guide and pressure rails, uponvthe opposite side ofthemachine, but viewed. from the same side of the machine as-Figure, 15, associated elements being shown in elevation andlsection.

In thedrawings; wherein for the purpose of illustration. is. showna preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral l5 designates a frame, as a whole, comprisingvertical'posts l6 and l'l, connected.by.- longitudinal inclined rails l8 andhorizontal rails l9 and 2B.

Disposed near. the. intake end of' the main frame l5 are .sprocketlwheel's 21,, Figures 4andi7, rigidly mounted. upon a. horizontal transverse shaft 22,,v journaled'i in bearings. 23, rigidly mountediupon the, horizontal rails. l9; Arranged near the discharge. end of the main frame 15 are. sprocket wheels 24;.Figures 4' and 1'2,v rigid upon transverse shaft 25",.journaled in bearings 25, mounted upon-the inclined'railsld. The pair of'sprocket whee1s24 is arranged at-an elevation above thatof the sprocket'wheels 2I,.as shown. The numeral- 26 designates a pair of endless sprocket chains, arrangednear the sides of. the

mainframe l5 and. engaging the sprocket wheels 21 and24, as..shown, see particularly Figure 1.

The sprocket'chains carry pairs of rolls 2? and 2 8', disposed between the: sprocket chains 2 6,. and

extending radially beyondthe same. Eachpair of rolls 2! and 28- are rigidly mounted upon shafts 29 and 30, respectively. The. shaft 23; at each end, is rotatably mounted'ina sleeve or hearing which is arranged withina loop-carrie'r. 32. The sleeve SIisengagedby anadjusting bolt 33, engaging within ascrew-threaded opening formed in the loop 32. and lockedin adjustmentby a lock nut34. After the shaft29 is moved toward the shaft 30, the outer side 35iof' the loopv is moved. inwardly to clamp the sleeve 3| against displacement, by manipulation ofi'la:nut-3.1"carried'by a bolt 38, passing through.

an. opening. in the inner arm 39 of the loopcarrier. This bolt is secured to a block 4'0" rigidly attached to-one link of the chain 26? and the arm 39 is clamped to the block by a nut 41. The opposite end of the arm 39 is' bent into an eye 42, receivinga sleeve or bearing 43, in turn holding the shaft 30; It i'sthus apparent that the roll 21 may be adjustedtoward or from the roll 28 and then held in the selected adjusted position, When the pairs of rolls 27* and 28are travelof the machine, as'viewed from the left" side ofaa' ing with the upper runs of the" endless chains the rolls 21 and 28 in each pair, in the manner stated, will now be described. Each shaft 29 carrying the roll 21 has a grooved pulley 44 rigidly secured thereto and this pulley is ar'-' ranged at one side of the machine, to the right,

Figures '7, 8, 9, and 10, while a grooved pulley- 45 is arranged upon the opposite side of the machine and is rigidly mounted upon the shaft 36. The pulleys 44 have hubs 46 while the pulleys 45 have hubs 41, as shown.

Arranged near and beneath the upper run of one endless sprocket chain is a guide rail 48, having a rear portion 49 whichis generally horizontal but slightly inclined upwardly toward the discharge end of'the machine and a forward inclined portion 58, extending upwardly toward the upper portion of the sprocket wheel 24, as shown. When the pairs of'rolls 21 and 28 traveling with the upper runs of the sprocket chains pass along the guide rail 48, the hubs 46 engage with the top of this guide rail, whereby the upper run of the endless conveyor produced by the sprocket chain and rolls conforms to the shape or inclination of the guide rail.

Disposed above and in vertical alignment with the guide rail 48 and above the grooved pulleys 44, in the same set, is a pressure rail having a rear slightly inclined portion 52 and a forward inclined portion 53. This pressure rail is preferably rigid and carriesoutwardly extending pins 54, Figure 4, held within vertical elon-' gated slots 55 formedin stationary bars 56. Extending longitudinally of the pressure rail 5| and secured thereto is a flexible belt 51, preferably tapered in cross-section to properly engage within the tapered grooves of the pulleys. At its fdrward end, the belt' 51 extends beyond the pressure rail 5| and passes about the grooved pulleys 44 traveling over the sprocket wheel 24.

The free end ofthis belt 51 is connected with a restractile coil spring 58, Figure 4, connected with a stationary upright 56; The belt 51 is concentric with the sprocket wheel 24 throughout the major portion of its length, but its free end extends from the sprocket wheel 24, as shown more clearly in Figure 4.

The pressure rail 5| is drawn downwardly so that the portion of the belt 51 carried thereby is held in firm engagement with the grooved pulleys, by links 59, pivotally connected with bell-crank levers 66, pivotally supported at 6|. These bell-crank levers are swung downwardly 'by retractile coil springs 62, connected therewith. This pressure rail 63 is vertically movable or adjustable like the pressure rail 5|, and carries pins 64, engaging within elongated slots 65, formed in stationary bars 65. The pressure rail 63 is drawn downwardly by links 61, connected with bell-crank levers 68 similar to bellcrank levers 66 and these bell-crank levers are moved downwardly by retractile coil springs 69. The pressure rail 63 is not equipped with the stationary belt and the pressure rail engages the hubs 41.

Arranged beneath the longitudinal set of pulleys 45 is a stationary guide rail 16, corresponding somewhat to the stationary guide rail 48. The guide rail 10 has a slightly inclined rear portion 1| and an inclined forward portion 12.

The stationary guide rail 16 carries a belt 13, tapered in cross-section, and arranged to enter the tapered grooves of the pulleys 45. The stationary guide rail 16 is connected at its forward end with a stationary segment 14, Figure and. the belt 13 continues around the periphery of the segment 14. In view of the foregoing description, it will be seen that the belt 13 is held in firm engagement within the grooves of the pulleys 45, but beneath these pulleys whereby the pulleys 45 and rolls 28 will rotate counterclockwise as they travel with the upper run or" the endless sprocket chains and about the sprocket wheels 24.

The means to rotate the roll 21 in each pair counterclockwiseand the roll 28 clockwise, during their travel with the lower lengths of the endless chains, will now be described. In connection with the grooved pulleys 44 traveling with the lower runs of the endless sprocket chains, the numeral 15 designates a stationary guide rail, arranged below and. engaging with thehubs 46. The numeral 16 designatesa pressur rail, carrying a belt 11 formed of rubber or the.like and which is arranged to engage within the grooves of the pulleys 44. The belt 11 engages the top of .the pulley 44 while the belt 51 engages the top of the pulley 44 at the upper runs of the endless sprocket chains. The belt 11 will therefore turn the pulley 44 and its roll 21 counter-clockwise as it travels with the lower runs of the sprocket chains. The pressure rail 16 is mounted for vertical adjustment and is moved downwardly by levers 18, pivoted at 1 9, an'dswung downwardly by retractile coil springs; 86. On'the opposite side of the machine the numeral 8| designates a vertically movable pressure rail arranged above the hubs 41 of the pulleys 45, at the lower runs of the endless sprocket chains. The numeral 82 designates a stationary guide rail arranged to engage the lower sides of the pulleys, 45. The pressure rail 8| is mounted for vertical downward movement and is moved downwardly by levers 84,- in turn moved downwardly by springs 85.

A horizontally arranged topping or cutting mechanism 86 is disposed upon the forward or outlet side of the sprocket wheels 24, in close relation to the pairs of rolls, to cut the tops from the bulbs. This cutting mechanism includes a set of stationary blades 81 and a coacting set of reciprocatory blades 88, carriedby a bar 89, suitably guided on the main frame. This bar is pivotally connected with a line 80, pivoted to a crank 9| carried by a rock-sleeve 92, suitably mounted for turning movement upon the main frame.

Dis'posednear'and in..advance of the cutting mechanism 8,6 is a stripping comb 93, carried by a reciprocatory bar 94 operating within a stationaryguide 95. The comb has taperedtines 9.6, which are slightly vertically inclined rearwardly. The fcomb covers the cutting mechanism); and the bulb of the vegetable passes over the comb While the tops pass between the tines of the comb to be brought into engagement with the cutting mechanism and severed thereby. In order that there may be no tendency for the bulbs to remain attached to the comb the comb is reciprocated. The bar 94 of the comb is connected at one end with a retractile coil spring 91 while its opposite end is pivotedwith a bell-crank lever 98, in turn pivotally connected with a crank 99 carried by therock-sleeve 92.

The rock sleeve 92 has a crank IBIJrigidly secured thereto and this crank has a head IIlI provided with an elongated slot I02 for receiving a pin I03, carried by a coupling I64 which ispivotally connected with a connecting rod I05 by means of a horizontal pin I06. The connecting rod I05 is secured to ahead I01, pivotally mounted upon a crank I08 carried by a transverse drive shaft I09. This drive shaft is journaled in bearings III]. The drive shaft IE9 is driven by a grooved pulley III in turn driven by a belt H2. The drive shaft I09 carries a smaller grooved pulley I I3, engaged by a belt II4 driving a larger grooved pulley I I5, rigidly mounted upon a transverse shaft IIS. This transverse shaft is journaled in bearings I I1. Rigidly mounted upon the shaft H6 to rotate therewith are two smaller grooved pulleys IIB, engaged by belts IIS, engaging larger grooved pulleys I20, which are rigidly mounted upon the transverse shaft 22.

When the pairs of rolls 21 and 23 pass about the sprocket wheels 24, the adjacent rolls of different pairs become further spread, and there is a tendency for the smaller vegetables to fall through the spaces between such rolls. An important feature of the invention is the provision of means to prevent this. This means comprises generally U-shaped rods I2 I, including horizontal portions I22 and radial portions I23. The rods are arranged between the sprocket wheels 24 and the radial portions I23 are rigidly attached to the sprocket wheels. These rods I2I are so spaced circumferentially that they will pass between the spaces between the rolls of different pairs, and these rods terminate at substantially the .circumference of the rolls.

The numeral I24 designates a transverse rake, including a group of hooks or tines I25, mounted upon a transverse rail I25. These tines are arranged adjacent to the forward inclined portion of the endless belt including the pairsof rolls, and serve to rake back down this forward inclined portion, the vegetables whose tops are not caught between the pairs of rolls.

The numeral I27 designates an inlet chute arranged at the intake end of the machine and I28 designates an outlet chute at the discharge. end of the machine.

The operation of the machine is as follows:

The pulley III is driven counter-clockwise and the sprocket wheels 2| and 2d are driven counterclockwise so that the upper run of the endless belt including the pairs of rolls travel to the left, Figure 4. The vegetables, such as onions, beets, turnips, carrots, or the like, are introduced into the chute I21 and fed thereby upon the intake end of the endless belt. The grooved pulleys 44 connected with the rolls 21 at the upper run of the endless conveyor are now engaging the belt 51, and hence all of the rolls 21 are turning clockwise,

while the rolls 45 are engaging the belt I3 beneath themand are hence turning counter-clockwise. ,Therollslin each pairare therefore turning inwardly in 'opposite directions and serve to draw the tops of the vegetables downwardly'between them. The adjacent rolls of different pairs are rotating in opposite directions upwardly. The vegetables .are therefore carried by the endless belt and the tops of the vegetables are being drawn down betweenthe rolls in each pair. When the forward inclined portion of the endless belt is reached, the vegetables whose tops have not worked down between eachpair of rolls are'raked down'the inclined portion .by the rake I24. The rods 'I2I now enter the spaces between the rolls of different pairs, as the pairs of rolls approach the sprocket wheels I24, thus preventing small vegetables from dropping through these spaces. Aseachpair of rolls approaches the comb 96 the bulbs of the vegetables pass upon the outer side of thecomb and the bulbs clear the cutting mech-v anism 86, while the tops are severed. When each pair of rolls reaches the lower run of the endless belt the pulleys 44 engage at their tops with the belt "It while the pulleys 45 engage at their bottoms with'the belt 82. The roll 21 is nowturning counter-clockwise and the roll 28 clockwise whereby the rolls in each pair turn in opposite directions in a downward direction with respect to their inner adjacent faces and this serves to work the tops downwardly and discharge the samefrom between the pairof rolls. The movable blade of the cuttingmechanism is reciprocated bythe connecting rod and associated elements and the comb 96 is also reciprocated by the connecting rod 98 and associated elements.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same and that various changes in the shape, size, and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of my invention-or the scope of the 'subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In a vegetable topping machine, a frame, pairs of sprocket wheels mounted upon the frame, endless sprocket chains engaging the sprocket wheels, means to drive .certain of the sprocket wheels, transverse pairs of loop-carriers mounted upon the sprocket chains, a pair of rolls associated with each pair of loop-carriers, a shaft carrying one roll and extending into the loop-carriers, adjustablebolts mounted upon the loop-carriers and engaging the shaft to adjust it longitudinally of the loop-carriers, adjustable means to draw the sides of the loop-carriers inwardly, a shaft carrying the other roll of the pair, eyes mounted upon the'loop-carrier and receiving the second named shaft, means to turn the rolls in each pair inwardly and downwardly when they are at the upper run of the sprocket chains, means to turn the rolls in each pair inwardly and downwardly when they'are at the lower run of the sprocket chains, and topping mechanism associated with the pairs of rolls.

2. In a vegetable topping machine, a frame, an endless belt mounted upon the frame comprising pairs of rolls, means to drive the endless belt, a set of grooved pulleys diposed near one side of the frame and connected with the corresponding rolls in saidpairs and having hubs, a vertically movable upper pressure rail mounted near and above the grooved pulleys when the grooved pulleys are at the upper run of the endless belt, a flexible belt mounted upon the upper pressure rail andarranged to engagethe tops of the grooved pulleys, the flexible belt extending beyond the forward end of the pressure rail, a stationary upper guide rail arranged near and beneath the hubs when the grooved pulleys are at said upper run to engage the bottoms of the hubs, means to move the pressure rail downwardly toward the guide rail, resilient means to exert a longitudinal pull upon the flexible belt extension, a lower vertically movable pressure rail mounted near and above the grooved pulleys when the grooved pulleys are at the lower run of the endless belt, a flexible belt secured to the lower movable pressure rail to engage with the tops of the grooved pulleys when they are at said lower run, a lower stationary guide rail arranged near and beneath the lower pressure rail and disposed to engage the bottoms of the hubs when the grooved pulleys are at said lowerrun, resilient means tomove the lower pressure rail toward the lower guide rail, a second set of grooved pulleys disposed near the opposite side of the frame and connected with the other rolls in said pair and having hubs, an upper stationary guide rail disposed near and below the second set of grooved pulleys when they are at the upper run, a segment secured to the forward end of the last named upper stationary guide rail, a flexible belt carried'by the last named upper stationary guide rail and segment and arranged to engage the bottoms of the second set of grooved pulleys when they are at said upper run, a vertically movable pressure rail disposed near and above the last named upper guide rail and arranged to ensaid upper run, resilient means to move the last named upper pressure rail downwardly toward the last named upper guide rail, a lower stationary guide rail disposed near and beneath the second set of grooved pulleys when they are at said lower run, a flexible belt carried by the last named lower stationary guide rail and disposed to engage the bottoms of the second set of grooved pulleys when they are at the lower run, a lower pressure rail arranged near and above the last named lower guide rail and disposed to engage the tops of the hubs of the second named set of grooved pulleys when such grooved pulleys are at said lower run, resilient means to move the last named lower pressure rail downwardly toward the last named lower guide rail, and cutting-mechanism arranged near the discharge end of the'endless belt.

3. In a vegetable topping machine, a frame, an

endless belt mounted upon the frame comprising pairs of rolls, means to drive the endless belt, a. set of pulleys disposed near one side of the frame: and connected with the corresponding rolls in said pairs and having hubs, an upper pressure rail mounted near and above the pulleys when they are at the upper run of the endless belt, a com-- pressible belt mounted upon the pressure rail and arranged to engage the tops of the pulleys, an upper guide rail arranged near and beneath the hubs when the pulleys are at said upper run to engage the bottoms of the hubs, yielding means: to eflect a relative closing movement between the pressure rail and guide'rail, a lower pressure rail. mounted near and above the pulleys when they are at the lower run of the endless belt, a compressible belt secured to the lower pressure rail. to engage the tops of the pulleys when they are at said lower run, a lower guide rail arranged near and beneath the lower pressure rail and disposed to engage the bottoms of the hubs when the pulleys are at said lower run, means to effect a relative closingmovement between the lowerpressure rail and lower guide rail, a second set of pulleys disposed near the opposite side of the frame and connected with the other rolls in said pair and having hubs, an upper guide rail disposed near and below the secondset of grooved pulleyswhen they are at the upper run, a compressible, belt carried by the last named upper guide rail and arranged to engage the bottoms of the second set of grooved pulleys when they are at said upper run, an upper pressure rail disposed nearandabove the last named upper guide rail and arranged to engage the tops of the hubs of the second set of pulleys when they are at said upper run, yielding means to effect a relative closing movement between the last named upper pressure rail and last named upper guide rail, a lower guide rail disposed near and beneath the second set of pulleys when they are at said lower run, a compressible belt carried by the last named guide rail and disposed to engage the bottoms of the second set of grooved pulleys when they are at the lower run, a lower pressure rail arranged near and above the last named lower guide rail and disposed to engage the tops of thehubs of the second named set of pulleys when such pulleys are at said lower run, means to effect a relative closing movement between the last named lower pressure rail, and the last named lower guide rail, and cutting mechanism arranged near the discharge end of the endless belt.

4. In a vegetable topping machine, a frame, pairs of sprocket wheels mounted upon the frame, endless sprocket chains engaging the sprocket wheels, means to drive certain of the sprocket wheels, transverse pairs of carriers mounted upon the sprocket .chains, a pair of rolls mounted upon each pair of carriers, means to efiect a relative closing movement between the rolls in each pair, means to turn the rolls in each pair inwardly and downwardly when they are at the upper run of the sprocket chains, means to turn the rolls in each pair inwardly and downwardly when they are at the lower run of the sprocket chains, guards secured to thesprocket wheels at the discharge end of the endless sprocket chains and extending radially beyond such sprocket wheels to enter the spaces between the carriers and rolls of different pairs, and topping mechanism associated with the rolls.

5. In a vegetable topping machine,a frame,pairs of sprocket wheels mounted upon the frame, endless sprocket chains engaging the sprocket wheels, means to drive certain of the sprocket wheels, transverse pairs of carriers mounted upon the sprocket chains, a pair of rolls mounted upon each pair of carriers, means to turn the rolls in each pair inwardly and downwardly when they are at the upper run of the sprocket chains, means to turn the rolls in each pair inwardly and downwardly when they are at the lower run of the sprocket chains, guards secured to the sprocket wheels at the discharge end of the endless sprocket chains .and extending radially beyond such sprocket wheels, said guards being disposed to enter the spaces between the adjacent rolls of different pairs, and topping mechanism associated with the rolls.

EPHRAIM BURDICK. 

